By Phuong LeThe Associated PressSEATTLE — It’s not the first time someone in Eastern Washington has suggested relocating gray wolves west of the Cascades Mountains, but one tongue-in-cheek bill introduced this year highlights real divisions over what to do with the endangered predators.

Lamenting that “the entire citizenship of the state has not been fully able to enjoy the re-establishment of this majestic species,” a Republican lawmaker suggested moving some to Western Washington.

“OK, all of you who love wolves and advocate them in the state, I want you to be able to share in all the benefits in having a wolf pack,” said Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, who represents the northeast corner of the state, where many of eight confirmed packs roam.

“It’s a stupid bill, and it’s a waste of our resources,” said Sen. Kevin Ranker, a Democrat from Orcas Island.

Kretz’s measure, House Bill 1258, suggests moving gray wolves to the Olympic Peninsula and the San Juan Islands — a jab, Ranker noted, directed at him, since the plan would send the animals to his district.

Ranker was a critic of last fall’s state-sanctioned killing of a wolf pack that killed ranchers’ cattle in Stevens County.

The bill has not gotten a hearing in the Democrat-led House, but similar sentiments have been echoed over the years as the state has wrestled with how to handle wolves that have recolonized the state faster than expected.In 2008, there were only a handful of wolves.

This year, there are eight confirmed and four suspected wolf packs, numbering between 51 and 100 animals.

All are on the eastern side of the state, and many in that region have complained that they bear the burden of the state’s wolf-recovery efforts.

Eastern Washington legislators have introduced a slew of bills that would give ranchers and local counties more leeway to deal with gray wolves.

Among the measures, Senate Bill 5187 and House Bill 1191 would allow livestock owners to shoot and kill wolves that threaten their livestock without first obtaining a permit from the state.

Wolf advocates and others oppose the measures, saying it would hurt the state’s wolf-recovery efforts and contradicts years of efforts put into hashing out a state wolf plan.

Citizens currently can get a caught-in-the-act permit to kill wolves, but only after the state has determined that wolves have killed or injured their livestock.

Two such permits were issued last year, though neither was used, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“I think we all understand that the wolves are here, and they’re here to stay,” said Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, sponsor of HB1191.

“But it’s disingenuous for the other side to say ‘deal with it’ without giving folks over here any options.”

Another proposal, Senate Bill 5188, would allow local counties to declare that wolves are a threat to livestock and allow local sheriffs to kill wolves, currently the domain of the Fish and Wildlife Department.

“Change can be disruptive, and wolves are bringing a lot of drama and at times trauma. But after a time, we’ll adjust, and wolves will no longer feel so new and upsetting.”

Gray wolves are protected as an endangered species throughout the state. The animals are federally listed as endangered only in the western two-thirds of the state.

The state’s wolf plan, approved in 2011 after three years of meetings, requires 15 breeding pairs of wolves to be established for three years in all regions of the state before they could be removed from endangered status and their populations could be controlled.

A breeding pair means a male and a female raising two or more pups in a given year.

■ Senate Bill 5193/House Bill 1219 would reclassify wolves as big game similar to bears and cougars, creates a special wolf license plate and pays compensation for wolf kills of animals regardless of whether they’re raised for sale.

It passed out of committee and awaits action by the Senate Ways and Means committee.

It has support from ranching groups and some wolf advocates.

■ Senate Bill 5300 prohibits livestock owners from receiving compensation for damages to livestock caused by wolves unless they have a cooperative agreement with the state.

■ House Bill 1501 allows the state to compensate livestock owners at market value for animals killed or injured by wolves and creates a special wolf license plate, among other provisions.

■ House Bill 1337 says gray wolves can only be listed as endangered or threatened in areas of the state where the gray wolf also is listed for federal protection.

Rep. Kevin Van De Wege said it was known in the House that Rep. Joel Kretz “filed in jest” a bill suggesting moving wolves to Western Washington.

Van De Wege, a Sequim Democrat, said Tuesday he doubted the bill filed by Kretz, a Republican from Wauconda, would get a hearing in the House.

Lamenting that "the entire citizenship of the state has not been fully able to enjoy the re-establishment of this majestic species," Kretz suggested moving some to the Olympic Peninsula and the San Juan Islands.

"All of you who love wolves and advocate them in the state, I want you to be able to share in the benefits of having a wolf pack," Kretz said, as he filed House Bill 1258.

Van De Wege thought Kretz's introduction of the bill as an outright joke was simply a waste of time.

“I think it's very unfortunate that Joel Kretz is wasting staff time without ever planning [for the bill to go] anywhere,” Van De Wege said.

Van De Wege, along with state Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, and state Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, represents the 24th District.

The 24th District comprises Clallam and Jefferson counties and a portion of Grays Harbor County.

Officials have said wolves, which have not been seen on the North Olympic Peninsula for nearly a century, eventually could be relocated to the area — but probably not for at least a decade.

Wolves could be moved from one region to another only if the numbers exceed objectives elsewhere and after public hearings.

Van De Wege said wolves most likely would find their way to the Peninsula on their own and would then need an area-specific management plan.

He does not support relocating them to the Peninsula.

“Actually moving wolves to the Peninsula — I don't support that,” Van De Wege said.